Get the app

Activity Chena Hot Springs

Aurora viewing tour

An activity in Chena Hot Springs, pricey ($$$) and worth about 3 hours. Best time to go: Late night.

Why go

Night tours from the resort by snowcoach to a ridgetop above the valley, with heated yurts to wait in between displays.

It is one of 6 curated places we feature in Chena Hot Springs, alongside 2 outdoor spots, 1 activity and 1 sight. 3 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Aurora Ice Museum and Chena Hot Springs Resort.

Type
Activity · Nature
Price
$$$
Time needed
3 hr
Best time
Late night

Nearby

The 5 closest curated picks in Chena Hot Springs, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Aurora Ice Museum

    Year-round museum built from ice and snow, with carved sculptures, ice chandeliers and a bar serving drinks in glasses of ice.

    Sight · 0.1 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Chena Hot Springs Resort

    Geothermal-powered resort with lodge rooms, cabins, a restaurant and the springs, in a valley with little light pollution.

    Stay · 0.1 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Rock Lake hot spring

    The resort's outdoor, rock-lined hot spring pool, fed by natural springs and steaming in air far below zero.

    Activity · 0.1 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Angel Rocks Trail

    Loop trail off Chena Hot Springs Road climbing to granite tors above the North Fork of the Chena River.

    Outdoors · 5.4 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Chena River State Recreation Area

    Large state recreation area along Chena Hot Springs Road with trails, frozen river views and public-use cabins.

    Outdoors · 12 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Aurora viewing tour is a stop on our Fairbanks, Talkeetna & Anchorage route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

When to go

Average daily highs in Chena Hot Springs run from 4°F in January to 66°F in July; July is usually the wettest month. For Aurora viewing tour itself, we suggest: Late night.

Modelled monthly averages for Chena Hot Springs from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Chena Hot Springs weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Aurora viewing tour, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Aurora viewing tour: quick answers

How much time do you need at Aurora viewing tour?

Plan on about 3 hours at Aurora viewing tour. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Aurora viewing tour?

Our pick: Late night. Insider tip: Book on a night with a good forecast; the higher ridge often sits above valley fog.

Which TripsCircle routes include Aurora viewing tour?

Aurora viewing tour appears on Fairbanks, Talkeetna & Anchorage, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Aurora viewing tour to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Chena Hot Springs.

Get TripsCircle

Plan Chena Hot Springs

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.